The Art of Food Presentation

The art of food presentation

Mocha Cake topped with peach slices and lingua de Gato

Greek Yogurt  garnished with
fresh strawberry,grapes and passion fruit leaves on the side

" Children eat with their tongue but men eat with their eyes". This is a phrase that explains why we art is important in food presentation. Taking Hotel and Restaurant Services as my professional carrier and being in the food service industry for seven long years now is enough for me to prove the reality of this phrase I stated earlier. Food is not just a matter of taste. Of course taste is an important aspect and the main thing in cooking but it is not the first thing that people or your dinners see. What's the use of a nicely cooked,perfect flavored and yuimy dish but goes out to the dining room in a very lousy way as if it was just dump on the plate without effort and passed straight to the dining room as if it's for the dog or the cat. First impression lasts and sad to say it also determines the rest of the judgement.

If men eat with their eyes then food presentation should also be a priority. Here are some tips in serving a delicious meal from the point of view of the eyes:
*First thing we consider in food presentation is the platters that we are going to use. The platter should be fit enough for your dish. Consider the color of your dish then the color of your platter that will enhance the beauty of it. Using white platter is  a very safe way. The shape is also another aspect to consider,square and rectangular platters are more beautiful to look at and more unique than the most common round ones. The size too is also important. One rule in food presentation is that the food should not get out of the indented part of your plate or if not at least an inch away from the rim.

* Height is the next thing to consider .The food should not look flat on the plate. Thus height is very important. You can pile your food higher so that it creates a height. If you can't help it you can also use a taller container for your sauce to create a height, maybe put tour sauce in a white wine goblet and put it on one side of the platter safe enough so as not to knock it down,others use a catch tape and tape its base on the platter. Or you can also put your side dishes taller maybe a spring of mint or basil mint is enough to create a height.
*Garnishes and side dishes. You must always think of your garnishes and/or side dishes for your dish. Some ideas for side dishes we will talk about in the next blog. When you use freeh garden herbs for your garnish put in mind to use the herb that is present in your dish. Something you use for the marination for instance.

* Cleanliness is also an important aspect. Your platter should be speck and span clean. Nothing unwanted should be there. Some unwanted sauce dripping for example or finer marks etc. Some chef used to put sauces on their platters in a very artistic way but this is different from the unwanted sauce drippings that I just mention.

* The last thing is the "Smile" of the server that serves the food,giving the impression that the food she is serving is the most perfect food her dinners will taste,bearing the pride that he guest will never look such food in other places than here. And showing her pride ,satisfaction and love in doing the service.

This tip is not just for those who has the passion of cooking and culinary things and those in the food industry but also and most specially for the wife's and mothers who want to be a perfect wife and the best mother. As the saying say "the best way to win a man is through his stomach" and let me add "one way to be a perfect wife and the best mom is through the stomach"..

Feed your family with a healthy,yummy and nicely presented food that they would choose to eat at home than to take their dinner in a five star restaurant. Mealtime is one of the best place to create the family atmosphere,here you can teach your children many things. A  family that eats together last forever just as a family that prays together stays forever.

I wanted to say more but I better reserve the other things o want to share with you in my next posts.

Next post will be about "perfect side dishes"